Thermo King, manufacturer of temperature control systems for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, is offering new solutions that enable owners and operators of light rail and bus systems to optimize energy and operational efficiency and sustainability, increase passenger and driver comfort, and improve their bottom lines at EXPO 2011.

To meet customer demand for the new low-floor streetcar market, Thermo King is launching a custom mid-size HVAC unit to provide a reliable, compact and efficient solution. Engineers at Thermo King worked closely with key railcar manufacturers to produce this new unit.

The mid-size rail unit, which is custom built to specifications for each transit agency, is one of the lightest and quietest in its class, enabling users to optimize energy efficiency and passenger and driver comfort. The first units will be installed on streetcars in Portland, Ore., by first quarter 2012, according to Thermo King.

Meanwhile, new bus solutions from Thermo King respond to customer demand for solutions that allow bus owners and operators to improve fuel efficiency and lower operational and lifecycle costs.

The bus market solutions incorporate leading edge technologies to help operators meet their energy efficiency, sustainability and cost objectives while optimizing comfort throughout the vehicle for passengers and drivers.

These solutions include the IntelligAIRE III microprocessor with advanced diagnostics and J1939 CANBus communication capability, long-life brushless motors and all-electric HVAC.

"These solutions will help bus owners and operators provide a consistently comfortable environment while improving the bottom line and increasing energy efficiency and sustainability," said Doug Lenz, director of product management and marketing for Thermo King.

IntelligAIRE III is an advanced microprocessor-based controller for bus climate control systems that can be programmed for either manual or automatic operation. This third-generation solution helps improve operational efficiency for lower lifecycle costs.

The controller offers improved diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities to help increase uptime. Users can monitor any of more than 100 functions and select alarm codes to alert them to any problems.

The new controller is standard on coach and transit solutions and optional on the Slim Line Rooftop (SLR) and SA-600 shuttle bus air conditioning solutions.

New brushless motors from Thermo King provide increased energy and operational efficiency and sustainability. This newly engineered solution, which represents a five-year research and development commitment, provides leading-edge brushless motor technology which is unique to the industry.

The new motors — now available on the Thermo King rear-mount T Series and the roof-mount low floor (RLF) units, reduce the HVAC unit weight by 20 percent to help improve fuel economy and lower operational costs. Since these are brushless solutions, there are no brushes to check or change, reducing maintenance time for improved operational efficiency.

Additionally, the all-electric HVAC system for buses uses alternating current (AC) enabling users to increase energy and operational efficiency. This solution optimizes air conditioning capacity to provide consistent comfort for passengers and drivers throughout the vehicle at all engine speeds.

The all-electric HVAC system also improves fuel economy by eliminating the negative impact of variable engine RPMs on load and demand.